On August 26—the 100^th anniversary of the ratification of the 19^th Amendment—the National Women’s History Museum will launch Women Vote, Women Win, a new non-partisan initiative designed to honor the legacy of suffragists and all of the women since who have worked to secure voting rights for women. 

Running through the end of 2020, the initiative will explore the historical context of the 19^th Amendment, the critical work that continued after its passage to ensure all women had the right to vote, and contemporary issues around voting through programming, partnerships, resources, conversations, and voter engagement activities.

“This is a historic year for women, and not just with the history-making inclusion of Kamala Harris as the first Black woman and first Asian American woman to run for vice president on a major party ticket. Across all political spectrums and all levels of government, women are running for office in record numbers,” said NWHM President and CEO Holly Hotchner.  “Voting is the single most important act we can do for our democracy as American citizens, and we knew the best way to mark this milestone anniversary in women’s history was to use our platform to educate and encourage women to actively participate in democracy themselves.” 

The initiative kicks off with a full day of free virtual programming on August 26 around the centennial, including two virtual “Determined to Rise” panels—one with the Newberry Library in Chicago (4 p.m. ET), which explores Chicago’s African American women in the fight for the vote, and one with the Michigan History Center, in collaboration with Michigan Women Forward (11 a.m. ET), which focuses on suffrage in the West. In addition, there will be screenings of three short films, beginning with FINDING JUSTICE: THE UNTOLD STORY OF WOMEN’S FIGHT FOR THE VOTE (2 p.m. ET), a film about a 2,000-lb. bronze replica of the Liberty Bell that suffragists used as a call to action in their fight for the vote. Following this screening will be a live discussion between filmmaker Amanda Owen and Rosie Rios, the 43^rd Treasurer of the United States. The Museum will also screen two short films about suffragist and women’s rights advocate Inez Milholland, INTO LIGHT and FORWARD INTO LIGHT, followed by a discussion with the filmmakers (8 p.m ET). 

The day concludes with Women Take the Stage (9 p.m. ET),: a free, livestreamed multi-ethnic concert and rally to increase votes by and for women before the November election featuring Gloria Steinem, Dolores Huerta, Alicia Garza, Vanessa Williams, Idina Menzel, Lily Tomlin, Billie Jean King, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Indigo Girls, BETTY, Dance Brigade, Pura Fé, DGLS, B-52s’ Kate Pierson, poet Staceyann Chin, founder of The Representation Project Jennifer Siebel Newsom, HBCU president Ruth Simmons, 3rd CTO of the U.S. /shift7 CEO Megan Smith, Time’s Up CEO Tina Tchen, ERA Coalition CEO Carol Jenkins, National LGBTQ Task Force’s Kierra Johnson, Native Action’s Gail Small, disability activist Mia Ives-Rublee, trailblazing transgender politician Andrea Jenkins, and N.Y.'s trailblazing Attorney General, Letitia James.
 

Other initiative highlights include:

• Additional “Determined to Rise” and other educational programming and events throughout the fall, including the publication of a compilation of essays in late 2020;
• A robust compilation of voter resources and resources on the 19^th Amendment on womenshistory.org and our companion site dedicated to the fight for the vote, Crusadeforthevote.org; and
• A digital campaign video series asking women to share why they vote, and social media assets for users to promote their participation in the campaign.
   

The Museum will also engage members of its National Coalition and other key partners to jointly amplify efforts and programming related to voting and the 19^th Amendment, including a partnership with NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises to provide voting resources in Spanish through its Decision 2020 initiative microsite.